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West Coast Train Trip 2009: Director's Cut

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A group discount would be sweet, provided it's cheaper than the AAA discount.

The car/train idea is pretty far fetched. Plus, as others have mentioned, it's nice having a "regular" train to retreat to when the PAX Train madness is too much. I make a point of not sleeping every year on the PAX Train, because I don't want to miss any of it, but not everyone is as hardcore as I am. ;)

Like this, not like the gas station.
Organizer of the Post-PAX Party. You should come!
Satellite Theater for life!

Having our own train cars separate from the regular Amtrak cars (but still dragged by the same locomotive) doesn't mean people wouldn't be able to sleep, as long as we agree that being loud in the sleeper cars constitutes being a dick. (And by separate I mean no crossover between the two.)

I talked to the LARail charter guy. He basically confirmed the $60k number as a ballpark figure, which would give us sleeper space for 42--10 double bedrooms, 6 double roomettes, and 10 single roomettes. (Anyone we pick up in Klamath Falls or later wouldn't need sleeper space for the train trip, so they wouldn't count against the 40.) We'd have our own obs/lounge car with space for Rock Band and plenty of tabletop with no curfew. All meals would be included, and unlike the Amtrak dining car we'd have a lot of leeway for picking our own menu. I didn't confirm BYOB being OK, but if it's a private car then it's not public drunkenness anymore. (DBAD still applies.) There would be showers on the train. And, which I think is key for this not being totally ridiculous, we would probably be able to sleep on the train while it's parked in Seattle, meaning the price includes your hotel for the con, assuming you don't mind a week in bunk beds. (I say probably because at most Amtrak stations it's possible, but the guy hasn't done the legwork to confirm that it will be possible in Seattle.) So, uh, $1500 a person... anyone interested?

I talked to the LARail charter guy. He basically confirmed the $60k number as a ballpark figure, which would give us sleeper space for 42--10 double bedrooms, 6 double roomettes, and 10 single roomettes. (Anyone we pick up in Klamath Falls or later wouldn't need sleeper space for the train trip, so they wouldn't count against the 40.) We'd have our own obs/lounge car with space for Rock Band and plenty of tabletop with no curfew. All meals would be included, and unlike the Amtrak dining car we'd have a lot of leeway for picking our own menu. I didn't confirm BYOB being OK, but if it's a private car then it's not public drunkenness anymore. (DBAD still applies.) There would be showers on the train. And, which I think is key for this not being totally ridiculous, we would probably be able to sleep on the train while it's parked in Seattle, meaning the price includes your hotel for the con, assuming you don't mind a week in bunk beds. (I say probably because at most Amtrak stations it's possible, but the guy hasn't done the legwork to confirm that it will be possible in Seattle.) So, uh, $1500 a person... anyone interested?

Nope.

I mean, it sounds awesome and everything, but $1500 is literally ten times what I spend on hotel for the entire weekend. I can train up, stay, and fly back for like $350. $1500 is double what I spent on PAX this year.

Like this, not like the gas station.
Organizer of the Post-PAX Party. You should come!
Satellite Theater for life!

More impractical crazy than drooling and arguing with the furniture crazy, which is a marked improvement on my plan.

It does have a certain appeal, however. Which is why i have had to resort to numbered paragaphs (see below)

Simply too much money. at $700 if it includes food and accommodation at the con is reasonably comparable to my expenditure, but i would think that i'm in the minority

Only a subset of potential traingoers would be able/find it prudent to come, and the best part of the trip was all the people. The tail end of the return trip can attest to that, with CONSARS, Hangovers and People getting off the train making '20 Questions' and 'who can hack up the most phelgm' seem like quite the games.

Staying in the train, we'd be a LONG way from the rest of the action. Smerky needs his action.

Rephrase: I am currently in Vancouver. I can murder you without... one of... those... things... and make it look like an accident. I shall remote stab you with my mighty brain meats, and all you can do is scream in grisly girly torment most horrid.

I talked to the LARail charter guy. He basically confirmed the $60k number as a ballpark figure, which would give us sleeper space for 42--10 double bedrooms, 6 double roomettes, and 10 single roomettes. (Anyone we pick up in Klamath Falls or later wouldn't need sleeper space for the train trip, so they wouldn't count against the 40.) We'd have our own obs/lounge car with space for Rock Band and plenty of tabletop with no curfew. All meals would be included, and unlike the Amtrak dining car we'd have a lot of leeway for picking our own menu. I didn't confirm BYOB being OK, but if it's a private car then it's not public drunkenness anymore. (DBAD still applies.) There would be showers on the train. And, which I think is key for this not being totally ridiculous, we would probably be able to sleep on the train while it's parked in Seattle, meaning the price includes your hotel for the con, assuming you don't mind a week in bunk beds. (I say probably because at most Amtrak stations it's possible, but the guy hasn't done the legwork to confirm that it will be possible in Seattle.) So, uh, $1500 a person... anyone interested?

Just because I'm intrigued more than would ever consider it-
Does that price include the cost of hooking up to Amtrak and using their engines for transport?
Does it include track overlay on UP's rails in Seattle?
Does it include any staff for the cooking, cleanup etc?
Does it include the liability insurance we would need?

I'm not being a devil's advocate, just interested because I think that the ancillary costs might run that 60k number up considerably. There's got to be some reason Amtrak is always running near or at a loss.

Just because I'm intrigued more than would ever consider it-
Does that price include the cost of hooking up to Amtrak and using their engines for transport?
Does it include track overlay on UP's rails in Seattle?
Does it include any staff for the cooking, cleanup etc?
Does it include the liability insurance we would need?

I'm not being a devil's advocate, just interested because I think that the ancillary costs might run that 60k number up considerably. There's got to be some reason Amtrak is always running near or at a loss.

I'm pretty sure that's all in. The cost of hooking 3 cars up to Amtrak on a single request for 1377 miles (the length of the Coast Starlight according to Amtrak's pamphlet) each way plus 4 nights' parking is about $15k. The guy didn't give me a breakdown of what the other $45k does (and he's not obligated to), but they have to pay for parking at LA Union while the cars aren't on the tracks, plus maintenance and annual certification, and I'm pretty sure there's economies of scale that we don't get to take advantage of because train charters just aren't that popular.

Just because I'm intrigued more than would ever consider it-
Does that price include the cost of hooking up to Amtrak and using their engines for transport?
Does it include track overlay on UP's rails in Seattle?
Does it include any staff for the cooking, cleanup etc?
Does it include the liability insurance we would need?

I'm not being a devil's advocate, just interested because I think that the ancillary costs might run that 60k number up considerably. There's got to be some reason Amtrak is always running near or at a loss.

I'm pretty sure that's all in. The cost of hooking 3 cars up to Amtrak on a single request for 1377 miles (the length of the Coast Starlight according to Amtrak's pamphlet) each way plus 4 nights' parking is about $15k. The guy didn't give me a breakdown of what the other $45k does (and he's not obligated to), but they have to pay for parking at LA Union while the cars aren't on the tracks, plus maintenance and annual certification, and I'm pretty sure there's economies of scale that we don't get to take advantage of because train charters just aren't that popular.

I was really sick too and didn't end up taking the L.A. to San Diego train because I was too sick. My bf had to come pick me up in Los Angeles. Sorry I didn't get to say bye to some of you. Tek, it was nice to meet you and thanks for the shirt.

i'm sorry about that. . .. i've been incredibly busy with other things that keep popping up . . . stupid fucking god damed life . . .always getting in the way of what i want to do. I will try to get on that as soon as i can

i'm sorry about that. . .. i've been incredibly busy with other things that keep popping up . . . stupid fucking god damed life . . .always getting in the way of what i want to do. I will try to get on that as soon as i can

Don't worry about it man. Just hope i can see it soon(ish) at some point. I need some PAX train footage to help me relive the trip, haha.